Black Friday habits have shifted, but Baltimore-area shoppers seek bargains and hold on to traditions

To some Baltimore-area shoppers, the hallmarks of past Black Fridays such as long lines, jammed aisles and countdowns to doorbuster deals seemed a distant memory on Friday. Economic concerns and stretched-out retail promotions have altered day-after-Thanksgiving shopping patterns. So have increased online buying and stay-at-home habits formed during the pandemic. “This is definitely not like the early 2000s, with wraparound lines and all the craziness,” said Christine Gower, a mental health therapist from White Marsh. “It’s actually way more relaxed this year.” With elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline and other essentials, many people were reluctant to spend unless there was a big sale. Shoppers were being more selective, dipping more into savings and turning to “buy now, pay later” installment services.